In another Google story, the Financial Times (registration required) punctures some of the mythology around the legendary algorithm that powers Google search.
First of all, it’s a work in progress. There were some 500 tweaks to the algorithm last year alone, some of which radically effect online businesses, some of whom are Google competitors.
“Some of those changes may change ranking substantially for some queries – that’s the nature of it,” says Amit Singhal, the Google search expert responsible for the algorithm. But he denies that the search company has any particular class of sites in mind when making changes to the rules that determine how they are ranked, or that it “penalizes” any by singling them out for special treatment.”
That’s a myth, says Dave Sifry, founder of Technorati, a specialized Internet search engine ad Google competitor.
“I don’t think it’s anywhere near being nefarious – but algorithms are not just pure rules that arrive out of nowhere.” By changing its mathematical formula to modify the results returned to a particular query, Google’s engineers are making judgments very similar to the editorial decisions made at a more traditional media organization, he and others argue.”
And, even if Google’s engineers are well-meaning in their approach to the search rankings – as some critics are prepared to concede – their good intentions may not be enough.
“We can’t be sure that Google 10 years from now won’t be corrupt – or that whoever is the dominant search engine won’t be corrupt,” Siva Vaidhyanathan, an associate professor of media studies at the University of Virginia, told the FT.
14. July 2010 at 7:41 am
Margot
I agree that Google probably aren’t being deliberately obstructive but by not allowing you to see all of the deep web they are encouraging conspiracy theories about the algorithm. This of course isn’t helped by the sudden demotion of sites due to changes in the algorithm.
For any website performing well on Google the trick would be to see into the deep web, filter out the rubbish and identify the influencers who could keep you top of the pile. Can do.
18. July 2010 at 3:53 am
The algorithm is nothing more than an Auction – bidding Model, where
Google tweaks 15 – 200 parameter within 5 – 7 days. This results in
“changed” basic ranking on the web. Like Microsoft Office package,
over 70 % of Google revenue is from “Search Marketing”, either
“auctioning of keywords / linguistic or sponsored. Therefore, Google
will always be defying explanation of their “algorithmic model” unless
and until someone just come up with a different approach to “Search”.
Google Model is actually a “Capitalist Model” and is heavily biased
towards – “linguistics on the Internet”. You pay the highest bidding
and stay on top or optimize and expand your inofrmation on the topic,
you are into the business.
19. July 2010 at 5:10 pm
In spite of the 500 tweaks touted, I do search engine optimization every day and can tell you from professional testing, the algo has changed very little.
20. July 2010 at 1:39 am
How can everyone be so trusting?
Have you ever come across a company that has a accounting department that doesn’t incessantly look at ways of increasing turnover and reducing overhead at the same time?
No? I haven’t either!
These guys are fiddling with a multi-million dollar turnover that can increased by tweaks of a search formula.
22. July 2010 at 4:02 pm
Glen,
I run a company entirely based on Semantics. And there are 28
other European Partners involved in R & D of Semantics. If you
are an SEO / PPC / Double click expert, i tend to think, you w’d
know what Semantics is and who are the only three Califonian
companies involved with Semantics crossing $ 50 Million mark
in 2010.
Yes, you are right, Google doesn’t change their algorithm and
they can’t because than their “Entire database” needs to be
reprogrammed. This includes over a Million server in U.S alone.
Google cannot risk their money making machine, so what they do
is play with 200 web parameter. ( I am sure, being an expert
you know all about these parameter )
Facebook took the “individual Search” from Google and Bing
emphasised on fortune 1500 companies. What we are left with
to Innovate than ?
Time is not very far, we w’d all know !!!